Combined compensating link and shock-absorber.



J. F. OCONNOR. COMBINED OOMPENSATINO LINK- ANO SHOCK ABSONBEII.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I6, Isis.

Patented Api. 15,1919.

INVENTOR. John/j''wuwr [ZY/@01 AT TOR Y JOHN F. OOONNOR, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOn To WILLIAM H. MINER, or cHAz'Y, New YORK.

COMBINED COMPENSATING IINK AND SHOCK-ABSORBER.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Toiall whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J oni.' F. OCONNOR, a citn of the United States. residing at Chi- Ca o, in the county of Cook and State of Il mois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Compensatin-g Links and Sliock-i-kbsorbers. of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and

exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in Combined compensating link and shock absorber.

In themanutacture of automobiles, it is now substantially a universal custom to einploy compensating or swinging links to connect the main springs of the vehicle to thereby permit the necessary relative movements v between the axles and chassis of the vehicle. Also, ',niost automobiles ai'e now equipped with sei-called shock absorbers to absorb the excessive shocks incurred when the ve hicle strikes a sharp depression or hump.

The object of'my invention is to combine in a single structure such a shock absorber and compensating link to thereby minimize the numberof parts, simplify the construction, and decrease expense.

ln the drawing forming a part of Athis specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a portion ot' an automobile chassis and axle having my improvements employed in connection therewith. Fig. 2 a detail, sectional view, taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig; 3 is a. view corresponding to Fig. 1` illustrating another embodiment ot the invention. And Fig. 4 is a detail, sectional view, taken on the line #1 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring first to theA construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 10 denotes the side frame of an automobile chassis, 11 a rear axle, 12

cent ends of the main springs 12 and 13, said link being pivotally connected to both and to then utilize an auxiliary shock ab- 'sorber between the chassis 10 and axle 11.

In carrying out my invention, however, I employ' a .combined compensating link and shock absorber which, as shown, preferably consists of two spring steel plates 18 and 1S). The plate 18 at its lower end is curled, as' indicated at 20. so as to fit within the corrospondingly curled end 21 of the spring 13 and over a bolt on which are carried washers 23-23.` Iii-this connection, it will be understood that the sectional view shown in Fig. 2 is equally applicable to the connection between the plate 18 and spring 13 as it. is to the connection between the plate 19 and spring 12. At its upper end, the spring steel pilate 19 is curled, as indicated at 24.- so as to fit over the correspondingly curled end of the main spring 12 and the parts are held in this instance 'also by a bolt and washers 23. as shown infFig. 2.- At,

, their innery ends, the spring plates 18 and 19 are sph-ally coiled, as indicated at 26 and 27, tlicnuniber of turns in the spirals being dependent -upon the desired shock absorbing .the usual compensating link.4 At the saine time, it is apparent that frictional shock absorbing capacity will be obtained by the action of the spiral coils 26 and 27, one, upon the other, as the forces tend to separate the adjacent ends of the main springs l2 and 13. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. 112 and '113 denote, the main springs ot' the vehicle corresponding to the springs 12 and 13 shown in the other gures. VIn Figs. fd and Ll, however. the ond 40 ol the longest plate of thel spring 113 is provided with a coil or convolution 41 which fits over two plugs #l2-4.2 carried on a bolt i3. The longest plate of the spring 112 has a similar coil 111 fitting over plugs similar to the plugs 52 and also mounted on a bolt 43. ln this construction. thc combined compensating link and shock absorber Apreferably consists of a single plate of spring steel end a similar'coil 1414- is provided itting the coil 141 of the spring 112. At both ends of the link, thcplngs l2- #12 are provided with flanges 4-5 vwhich overlap the edges of the nested coils 41 and 41 on the one hand and 111 and 1H on the Aother hand.

As will be evident, the link A performs all the functions ot the usual compensating link and at the same time additional frictional shock absorbing capacity will be generated due to the swinging movements of the link and the tendency of the end coils of the member A to straighten ont or nncurl from the coiled ends of the main springs 112 and 113.

' I claim:

1. In a Vehicle, the'combination with two main shock absorbing springs, of a compensating link pivotally connected to the ends of said springs, said link including a spring plate having an integral portion therein coiled about an axis parallel to the axesA of pivotal connection between the link and said main springs, said coiled portion being adapted to frictionally slide upon an associated part to provide auxiliary friction vshock absorbing capacity.

2. rEhe combination with two main shock absorbing springs of a vehicle, of a compen- ,eating link pivotally connected to /djacent ends of said springs, said link inclu ing two elements, one of Which'is attached to one of said main springs and the second to the other of said main springs, said elements having integral intereoiled sections arranged for frictional sliding action. 1

In Witness that l claim the oregoinr have hereunto subscribed my naine this l(lth day of Feb., 1918.

JOHN F. CGNNOR; 

